Fraser changes tune on solar rebate cuts

A vocal north coast critic of the state government's plan to cut the solar bonus rebate has changed his tune.

Coffs Harbour MP Andrew Fraser is on record labelling the O'Farrell decision to cut the solar rebate as 'dictatorial'.

Mr Fraser was angry the plan to slash rebates from 60 to 40 cents a kilowatt, was done without partyroom discussion or community consultation.

But he says after a partyroom meeting yesterday he believes the move is justified.

"My problem is the retrospectivity, the jobs that are going to be lost out there and people that may gain some hardship out of this.

"But we have been left an absolute mess by the previous government because they took their eye off the ball.

"This was a scheme that was supposed to cost the government $355 million, the estimated blow-out is over $1.9 billion, but I want to see the facts and figures before I make a decision," he said.

Mr Fraser says something has to be done to address the financial blow-out with the solar scheme.

"We've inherited something which is going to hurt the taxpayers and it's going to hurt people across the board.

"What we've got to do is get it back into order and I believe we do that by consultation.

"That's now taking place with the industry, with the MPs involved and at the end of the day hopefully we'll come up with a resolution to the problem that will suit all people concerned," Mr Fraser said.

The State Opposition leader John Robertson says Andrew Fraser has failed to support the people of his electorate.

"Andrew Fraser says one thing when he's in Coffs Harbour and another thing when he's in Sydney.

"Yesterday he had the opportunity to vote for a debate on the issue of the retrospective legislation that his government is introducing and he voted against that debate being brought on.

"The issue for Andrew Fraser is he has to front up to the people of Coffs Harbour and explain why is it he says one thing to them when he's in the electorate and does the complete opposite when he comes to Sydney," Mr Robertson said.